Letters Page

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Suspension of deer culling

SIR, – I am not convinced by the argument made by Peter Fraser (Letters, January 16) that there is a need for legislation to suspend deer-culling activities in extreme weather.

Almost all professional stalkers in Scotland have a range of responsibilities other than just stalking.

In times of exceptional snowfall, their attention automatically turns to other tasks, as access to much of the deer range becomes difficult.

Deer culling either stops or is given considerably lower priority by default.

Conditions do vary across the country, of course, and commonsense would tell you that individuals should decide their own priorities.

Deer are rarely affected in the early stages of snowy weather, but will be weakened by a prolonged period, and may succumb later in the spring.

If stalkers in a particular area consider that an animal-welfare issue is developing, and that may now be the case in some areas, then word will spread quickly through the local deer-management group, and a local policy decision will be taken accordingly.

There is no need for government to get involved. Given that many landowners resist unnecessary regulation anyway, I am slightly surprised that Peter would suggest extra at present. It’s an interesting discussion point, yes. Priority consideration? I suspect not.

Victor Clements,

Scottish Native Woods,

1 Crieff Road,

Aberfeldy.

Protection for the human species

SIR, – Peter Fraser wants more protection for deer against people killing them (Letters, January 16).

What about people getting more protection from deer?

Mr Fraser must know that the “balance of nature” means no single species becoming too dominant. In recent years in north-west Sutherland, deer have become more numerous and less timid.

Last year in the Kinlochbervie-Scourie area, five cars were smashed by deer. People could have been injured.

Deer killed young trees and ravaged gardens.

Sometimes their boldness was surprising and a ranger warned people not to go near stags.

Every species, including the human one, has to protect itself against its enemies. There is no doubt that in some parts of the country, deer are the enemy of the people.

Andrew Marshall,

31 Inchard Place,

Kinlochbervie.

Turbine dangers for Lewis eagles

SIR, – January 14 was a black day for those who appreciate scenic wild land, spectacular birds of prey and democracy, because Jim Mather, Scotland's energy and tourism minister, approved 33 giant 478ft wind turbines in the Eisgein Estate on Lewis.

A more sustainable option would have been to declare this most remote area a national park, as it has one of the highest concentrations of golden eagles in the world, as well as a few pairs of sea eagles.

It is a flawed decision on several counts, namely the inevitable eagle deaths caused by blade strikes, the loss of tourism jobs, the low number of permanent jobs (possibly only three) and the choice of the most inefficient power-generation technology.

Wind turbines can achieve only a maximum of 34% efficiency due to winds being too strong or calm spells.

Why not use wave and tidal generators, which are closer to 90% efficiency?

How can the government deem it acceptable to allow a wind factory to kill rare birds of prey?

Its own figures of “only 10 eagle strikes over 25 years" are naive considering a similar windfarm in Smola, Norway, killed over 30 sea eagles in three years.

I cannot imagine that Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil is too happy that SNP colleague Mr Mather has alienated the 1,000-plus island voters who made written objections to this windfarm.

Les Mac an Ultaigh,

1 Tomair,

Baile Ailein,

Lewis.

Women-only shortlists

SIR, – I read with interest (the Press and Journal, January 13) that Labour MP Anne Begg is calling for all-women shortlists for candidates for parliamentary elections. This is wrong.

While I agree that we need a broad cross-section of people to represent us, they need to be selected on the grounds that they are able, and are knowledgeable about the people and the industry of the constituency for which they are standing. They should not be selected merely on grounds of gender, religion, colour or ethnic background.

Ideally, I would like to see candidates at least in their late 30s or 40s, probably a family person, who, for some time, has lived and worked in, or near to, the constituency they wish to represent. That way they will have first-hand knowledge of any problems in the area.

It would be an advantage if they worked in one of the main industries of the area, such as the oil and offshore industry in Aberdeen and the fishing industry in the Buchan area. It would make sense to have someone in parliament who knows what they are talking about when it comes to fishing quotas, days at sea and so on.

In the Highlands, someone who knows about tourism would be ideal.

We need people who understand these issues. Reading up on a subject is one thing; practical experience is another.

W. Gumbrell,

18 Derbyhall Avenue,

Fraserburgh.

Reasons for cheer during cold winter

SIR, – A bit of thanks is needed during this extended winter, in particular to the regular anti-power line, anti-windfarm, anti-anything writers.

They bring cheer and a laugh at regular intervals in their constant invention of ludicrous reasons for the Highlands not to develop.

The best yet was “Terrorist threat to power lines” (Letters, January 14). If terrorists wanted to blow up a pylon, why wait for the installation of a larger, more difficult one to attack?

And then there is the straight tunnel from Beauly to Denny idea: perhaps we could also stuff the A9 and railway down it?

My own personal cheering note is that, in the first week of the new year, I visited London and Paris, with not an airport in sight.

I drove along a totally clear road to the centre of Edinburgh, took a clean, warm and on-time train to London, and Eurostar to Paris.

I returned arriving 90 minutes earlier than expected because of Eurostar’s efficiency in dealing with snowy conditions, and back to Edinburgh with a slight delay but full and speedy information given on the east-coast line.

I send a big thank-you to all the rail and road operators who maintained services from Skye to Paris despite the heavy snow.

Duncan Macinnes,

Ostaig House,

Sleat,

Skye.

Highland Council at melting point?

SIR, – As in World War II, does Highland Council now propose to melt down its fool Gaelic road signs to pay for essential road safety measures, such as salt and grit?

Ray Lann,

Marine Road,

Nairn.